Confidential Data & Student Records

File Sharing Responsibilities

Contact ITSHelp if you need to share sensitive data with external, non-PennKey recipients.

Remote Computing Responsibilities

Staff and Faculty who connect to Penn Law servers or access data remotely have special responsibilities. Anyone who uses a remote system to access sensitive data or to access their office computer via Remote Desktop must certify their system (see below links). We recommend all home computers that connect to Law School servers be certified and have encrypted hard drives.

Please make sure you follow the follow best practices for remote computing. The below links provide more information about how to certify your computer and other tips for secure computing.

Don’t use email to transport sensitive data.

Don’t store sensitive data on your personal or any remote device, including USB Keys or PDAs.

All Penn data should be stored on the server because it is backed-up and monitored for security.

Any locally stored data should use encrypted hard drives.

Use your department’s SharePoint Only site to access data remotely.

Use strong, complex passwords and password-protected screensaver.

Don’t save passwords.

Logoff of password protected websites and close all open browser windows when you’re done.

Avoid the use of free wireless access points, kiosk computers, or computer workstations in public places (e.g., Internet cafes). Never use them to login to Remote Desktop or to access systems which contain sensitive data.

Consider changing your passwords if you have used a public computer or one which you do not know is secure.

Your PDA must have a strong password and be able to be remotely wiped if you are using it to access Penn data.

Latest Tips

The Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction, also known as CALI, provides online interactive tutorials on various legal subjects. Tutorials are authored by law faculty and peer reviewed by a member of the CALI Editorial Board. Here is information on how to create an account and access the materials.

With so many digital tools that require passwords, it’s difficult to create memorable passwords that are both unique and hard to guess. Use LastPass to get control of your passwords for National Cyber Security Awareness Month!

Before the semester begins, it’s important to make sure your laptop is secure and up to date by configuring automatic software updates and installing antivirus software (which the University provides).

Documents often contain hidden data and personal information that could be harmful to the author if distributed. Here are instructions on how to remove hidden data and personal information from documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

System Availability

Our online services may not be available during these maintenance periods.